John Lee, proper, attends a reception in Hong Kong, on Oct. 1, 2021. (Kin Cheung / AP)
HONG KONG --
Hong Kong's No. 2 official, a staunch supporter of a Beijing-backed crackdown on pro-democracy activists, tendered his resignation on Wednesday to pave the way in which for his run within the metropolis's upcoming management race.
John Lee, who's the town's chief secretary for administration, submitted his resignation to Hong Kong chief Carrie Lam, based on a authorities assertion.
"If my resignation is accredited by the Central Individuals's Authorities, I shall plan to face for the upcoming chief govt election," mentioned Lee at a information convention. "Having been within the authorities for over 40 years, to serve the individuals of Hong Kong is a glory."
He mentioned he would elaborate on his "subsequent transfer" if the Chinese language authorities approves his resignation.
Lee, who's seen as Beijing's favoured candidate for the chief govt place, is a staunch advocate of the town's nationwide safety legislation, which has been used since 2020 to focus on pro-democracy activists, supporters and media, diminishing freedoms promised to Hong Kong at Britain's handover to China in 1997.
His potential management of Hong Kong may sign an extra tightening of Beijing's grip on the semi-autonomous Chinese language metropolis.
Lam mentioned Monday she wouldn't search a second time period, following a rocky 5 years punctuated by the COVID-19 pandemic, a crackdown on political freedoms and Beijing's rising affect over the territory.
Native media, together with the main South China Morning Publish newspaper, reported that Lee would be the sole candidate to be endorsed by the Chinese language authorities.
Different candidates tipped by native media as probably contenders embrace the town's finance minister, Paul Chan, though he has but to specific an intention to run.
Beijing's probably endorsement of Lee's candidacy indicators that China is in search of loyalty and an emphasis on nationwide safety for Hong Kong, based on Ivan Choy, a senior lecturer on the Chinese language College of Hong Kong's Division of Authorities and Public Administration.
In comparison with earlier chief executives, Lee would have a lot much less policy-making expertise as a result of he has spent most of his civil service profession within the police and overseeing safety issues, Choy mentioned.
On condition that inexperience, Beijing may "play a extra necessary position" within the metropolis's native and home affairs, he mentioned.
Town's subsequent chief shall be chosen on Might 8 by an election committee of about 1,500 individuals, a majority of whom are pro-Beijing.
Hong Kong's chief is chosen each 5 years, though the choice course of is rigorously orchestrated behind the scenes by Beijing.
The 4 chief executives chosen since Hong Kong's handover to mainland China in 1997 have all been candidates seen as favoured by Beijing.
Lee, 64, a former profession police officer who rose steadily by the ranks, was named Hong Kong's chief secretary in June and beforehand served as Lam's secretary for safety.
He was a key determine in proposing contentious laws in 2019 that might have allowed suspects in Hong Kong to be extradited to mainland China. He dismissed calls from critics to write down safeguards into the invoice.
The proposed invoice led to large protests within the metropolis earlier than it was withdrawn, and Lee oversaw a police crackdown on demonstrators throughout a number of months of large anti-government protests in 2019.
After the protests had been snuffed out, Lee threw his backing behind the sweeping safety legislation, which was used as justification for the arrests of greater than 150 individuals. It outlaws subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with overseas forces within the metropolis's affairs.
Lee, Lam and different Hong Kong and mainland Chinese language authorities officers had been sanctioned by the U.S. in 2020 for "undermining Hong Kong's autonomy and proscribing the liberty of expression or meeting."
Nominations for the management race started Sunday and proceed till April 16, with the committee vote scheduled for Might 8.
The management race is the primary since Hong Kong's electoral legal guidelines had been amended final 12 months to make sure that solely "patriots" loyal to Beijing can maintain workplace. The adjustments make it tough for pro-democracy supporters to run for chief govt.
The brand new chief takes workplace on July 1, the day Hong Kong was handed over to China by the British in 1997.
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